July ending on a summery, not sizzling, note

The last week of July in Chicago will certainly be summery -- with daily highs mainly in
the 80s and moderate levels of humidity along with some scattered showers and
thunderstorms -- but lacking the heat, as has been the case nearly all summer.
Nineties have been scarce in Chicago so far this year, with the tally of only three days
at O'Hare International Airport and five at Midway Airport to date -- far below the
typical 15 or 16 usually logged here by the end of July. Another one is possible on
Tuesday.
Hot weather remains anchored from the lower Mississippi Valley to the Southwest
where readings are reaching triple-digits daily. A variety of heat warnings and
advisories are posted for Sunday from Mississippi west to Texas and Oklahoma.
ATLANTIC BASIN QUIET FOR THE MOMENT
After a flurry of activity last week with Hurricane Dolly hitting far south Texas and
Tropical Storm Cristobal skirting the Northeast coast, the Atlantic Basin is currently
storm-free.
However, a well-defined area of disturbed weather about 800 miles east of the Leeward
Islands is moving to the northwest and could develop into Edouard, the season's fifth
named tropical cyclone, later in the week.
--By Steve Kahn, WGN Weather Center Meteorologist